Art Education Hosts First Diversity & Inclusion Professional Development Workshop
On January 24, 2020, the Department of Art Education held its first Diversity & Inclusion Professional Development Workshop hosted by the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI). NCBI is an international, non-profit, leadership training program that aims to eliminate discrimination on college campuses and throughout the world. Miguel Hernandez, Associate Director – Center for Leadership & Social Change, and Tonya Edington, Assistant Director – Human Resources, here at FSU co-led the workshop for the department.
The workshop focused on exploring the complex nature of one’s identity while also valuing the diverse identities of others. The facilitators achieved this through a myriad of interactive experiences. For example, Up/Downs invited participants to stand when facilitators called out an identity to which they belonged while other participants applauded those with that identity. The facilitators also invited participants to acknowledge identities that were not present. Facilitators encouraged small group discussions that explored the link between one’s identity and leadership style, and how members of the various programs within the department can work together to create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
With close to 100 participants, attendees represented the Department’s four programs. One student from the art therapy program stated that the workshop was, “incredibly beneficial from an individual and departmental standpoint. Diversity and inclusion should continue to be a part of the conversation and the department should continue to provide more opportunities like it.” Dr. Jeff Broome, Associate Chair – Department of Art Education commented, “The workshop was important for students, faculty, and staff in reconsidering how multiple layers of social and personal identities shape how we approach our work and how we collaborate with others. From my point of view, the event was equally important in serving as a venue for all programs in the department – art therapy, art education, arts administration, and museum education and visitor centered curation – to come together and work cooperatively in understanding our shared goals related to diversity and inclusion.”
The Department of Art Education would like to thank Miguel Hernandez, Tonya Edington, and NCBI once again for providing an interactive and engaging workshop on Diversity and Inclusion. This workshop helped to advance the Department’s mission to empower people to empower people through the arts.